Snap-hook



(No Model.) G. M. STOUT. ENAP HOOK No; 444,717 Patented Jan. 18,1891.

Q '4 as a I yhds fliia r'wys GEORGE M. STOUT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,717, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed May 23, 1887. Renewed October 13, 1890. Serial No. 368,010. (No model.)

To all whom it Til/(Ly concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. STOUT, a, citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Harness-Snaps, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of my invention is to so construct a harness, halter, or othersnap as to provide for the ready opening of the same byone hand to insure the instant delivery ofthe ring, loop, or other connection therefrom when the snap is opened and to prevent the accidental opening of the snap or the accidental release of the ring or other connection therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a harness-snap constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the snap,showing the same open. Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating other forms of snap embodying the invention. Fig. 5 is an end view of the snap; and Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating modifications in the construction of the snap.

The snap consists of two arms A A, pivoted together and to a loop 13 at one end, these arms diverging from the pivot,butconverging at the outerends, so as to form abntt-j oint, the end of one arm being V-shaped orbeveledfor adaptation toaV-shaped recess in the end of the other arm, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to prevent the arms from being twisted laterally out of line with each other. To these arms is adapted an operating and retaining yoke D, which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, has at its opposite ends eyes a, one of which embraces one of the arms of the snap, while the other embraces the opposite arm of the same. The curve or angle formed by the converging outer ends of the arms is such that the ring, loop, or other connection a; will be self-discharging therefrom when the snap is open and there is any pull upon said ring or connection-that is to say, the angle formed by the bent ends of the arms is not such as to afford any shoulder which would retain the ring or prevent it from being withdrawn from the snap in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, when the arms are separated; or the angle may be such that the pull upon the ring will tend to separate the arms when the latter are released from restraint. TTnder ordinary circumstances the outer ends of the arms are held in contact with each other by means of the yoke, which is moved forward on the diverging portions of the arms to the fullest possible extent, as shown in Fig. l, and by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the yoke being, if desired, retained in this position by means of a springlinger b, as shown in Fig. 3, or being moved to and retained in such position by means of coiled springs d on the arms A, as shown in Fig. 4:, for instance; or a single central spring may be used instead of the two springs, one on each arm. By moving the yoke backward on the diverging portions of the arms the latter will be separated, owing to the engagement of the yoke with the inner faces of the arms, so that the ring or other connection 00 can be readily withdrawn.

Although I prefer to bend the outerends of both of the arms so as to form a central joint, only one of the arms may be so bent,if desired, the other arm being straight, as shown in Fig. 6-, and, if desired, the arms may be grooved, as shown in Fig. 7, the governingyoke in this case being simply a bar D with enlarged ends a, adapted to the grooves of the arms.

In all of the forms of snap shown the yoke bridges the space between the arms, and when the snap is held in one hand the said yoke can be pressed upon by the forefinger of that hand and retracted so as to open the snap.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a harness-snap, of opposite arms A, jointed at their inner ends, diverging from the joint, and converging at an angle to a meeting-point at their outer overlapping ends, with an operating-yoke D, provided with eyes a, adapted to embrace the arms between the joint and the outer converging ends, said eyes a engaging with both the inner and outerfaees of the opposite arms, said yoke being free to slide longitudinally on the arms, whereby as the yoke is advanced the arms are closed by pressure upon their outer sides, and as the yoke is retracted said arms are separated by pressure upon their inner sides, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a harness-snap, of opposite diverging arms jointed at their innerendsand converging atan angle toaineet- In testimony whereof I have'signed my lug-point at their outer ends, an operatingname to this specification 1n the presence of yoke engaging with the adjacent faces of the two subscribing Witnesses.

operating-arms and bridging the space be- GEO. MfSTOUT. 5 tween the same, and one or more springs Witnesses:

bearing against the yoke and serving to pro- XVILLIAM D. CONNER,

ject the same, all substantially as specified. HARRY SMITH. 

